This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citing articles on ISI (1)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 116 words of the full text and any section headings.

The timely review by Katiyar et al¹ on green tea and skin discusses the anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antioxidant properties of green tea polyphenols. Another potential beneficial effect of green tea is worth noting. Liao and Hiipakka² have shown that the green tea catechins (-)epigallocatechin-3-gallate and (-)epicatechin-3-gallate are potent inhibitors of type 1,5-reductase.² While controlled human studies have yet to be conducted to prove clinical efficacy, these findings suggest the potential for the use of green tea polyphenols in the treatment of androgen-mediated skin disorders such as androgenetic alopecia, hirsuitism, and possibly acne.

James C. Shaw, MD
Section of Dermatology
University of Chicago Hospitals
5841 S Maryland Ave, MC 5067
Chicago, IL 60637
(e-mail: jshaw@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu)

1. Katiyar SK, Ahmad N, Mukhtar H. Green tea and skin. Arch Dermatol. 2000;136:989-994. FREE FULL TEXT 2. Liao S, Hiipakka RA. Selective inhibition of steroid 5 alpha-reducatase isozymes by tea epicatechin-3-gallate and epigallocatechin-3-gallate. Biochem Biophys Res Comm. 1995;214:833-838. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED

Arch Dermatol. 2001;137:664.